The Federal Government has pledged to transform Katsina State into a thriving industrial hub by harnessing innovation, technology, and the resilience of its people.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima made this commitment on Monday at the maiden Katsina State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Awards Dinner and the Dikko Social Innovation Academy graduation ceremony in Katsina.
Shettima highlighted the state’s rich legacy as a center of learning, trade, and craftsmanship, tracing its historical significance to the Sahel region. Quoting historian Yusufu Bala Usman, he noted that Katsina’s transformation between 1400 and 1883 was driven by visionary leadership, scholars, and traders who connected Africa’s interior to the global economy.
“That same creative energy still drives our entrepreneurs, artisans, and MSMEs today,” Shettima said. “Our challenge now is to renew that legacy through industrialization anchored on our natural strengths.”
He emphasized the need to process what the state already produces, citing opportunities in cotton and millet production. “Let the cotton of Musawa and Bukarawa feed new spinning and weaving mills. Let the millet of Katsina and Mani power agro-processing industries and food innovation hubs,” he added.
According to Shettima, Katsina once accounted for 62% of Nigeria’s cotton output and ranked third globally in millet production — behind only India and China. These statistics, he said, are not relics of the past but roadmaps for the future of job creation and inclusive growth.
Gov. Dikko Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making Katsina a hub for entrepreneurship and inclusive development.
“We gather not just to celebrate achievements, but also to honour the resilience, innovation, and enterprise of the Katsina people,” he said. “From the outset, our mission has been clear — to empower our people through enterprise and innovation.”
Radda thanked the Vice-President for his continued support, calling him a “true champion of enterprise development” in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, A’isha Aminu, Director-General of the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA), described the awards as a landmark initiative to recognize outstanding entrepreneurs across the state.
“This maiden edition received over 2,200 applications from across Katsina, reflecting the enthusiasm and potential of our MSMEs,” she said.